Chapter_40
Chapter 40
Once the dishes were served, Emmeline called the children and Abel to come downstairs for dinner. The atmosphere in the house was lively, full of warmth and happiness.
As she watched the scene, Emmeline couldn’t help but remember what Daisy had said to her earlier. But how could she and Abel ever be a real family? It was a strange thought. Due to an accident, Emmeline had given birth to Adrien’s child, and Alana had given birth to Abel’s son. The situation felt complicated, almost too surreal.
After dinner, Emmeline took a book to the rooftop, sitting on the swing and reading as she gently swayed back and forth.
Abel, holding two packages in his hands, came upstairs. He seemed a little awkward as he approached her. “This is for you,” he said, his voice uncertain. “I’ve never bought anything for a lady before, so… I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”
Emmeline blinked in surprise when she saw the high-end women’s clothing wrapped up in the packages. “This…,” she hesitated, glancing at the expensive fabric. “I don’t think I’m the right person for such luxurious clothing.”
Abel frowned slightly. “Why not? You deserve something better than those cheap clothes you wear. If there’s ever a special occasion, why settle for something that costs only 99 dollars, including postage?”
“Are you making fun of me?” Emmeline raised an eyebrow, slightly annoyed but also amused at his teasing.
“No, I’m not,” Abel replied quickly. “You’re already so beautiful, even in cheaper clothes. Imagine how much more stunning you’d look in this Italian brand.”
Emmeline could sense his sincerity, and she didn’t want to appear petty by rejecting his gift. “Alright, I’ll accept it. Consider it your living costs,” she said with a soft smile, hoping to ease his feelings.
Abel smiled in return, though a small pang of discomfort lingered in his chest. Did she not understand that there might be a deeper meaning behind him giving her clothes?
The next morning, Abel was in a hurry to leave for an urgent matter at the Ryker Group. He rushed downstairs, planning to skip breakfast.
“Wait,” Emmeline called out, quickly packing up his breakfast into a lunch box. “Take this with you. The food outside is unhealthy, and you shouldn’t be eating that. You need to take care of yourself.”
Before Abel could protest, she handed him the box and adjusted his tie for him with a gentle touch.
“Daddy, Mommy, you’re so sweet together!” Timothy said, grinning.
“Yeah, you’re showing off so early in the morning!” Sun chimed in.
“Shouldn’t you two be keeping your love to yourselves?” Moon teased, laughing.
“Just pretend we don’t exist and keep going!” Star added with a mischievous grin.
The two of them blushed at the teasing.
“It’s getting late,” Emmeline reminded him, a little embarrassed by the attention.
“Mmhm, see you later,” Abel replied, nodding with a soft chuckle. With a final glance, he went downstairs, carrying the breakfast she had made for him.
As she watched him leave, her heart skipped a beat. Though this man wasn’t the father of her children, she couldn’t deny that he was kinder in ways that Adrien had never been. She found herself thinking, Why wasn’t Abel the one I had an accident with?
Meanwhile, Alana had been busy with Mr. X for an entire month. Finally, she realized she hadn’t gotten her period, which led her to a quick visit to the doctor. The result was clear—she was pregnant!
Hahaha! My efforts weren’t in vain!
Excited, Alana rushed to meet Alondra to share the news.
Alondra, always playful, pinched Alana’s cheek with a teasing smile. “Mr. X didn’t just get you pregnant, huh? He’s also taking good care of you! Look at that sweet face! Even I want to touch it!”
“Stop joking around!” Alana scolded, though there was a smile on her lips. “I’m being serious here. I need to tell Abel that he’s the father of my baby—because of that night.”
There was still a chance the child might be Cristopher’s, though Alana didn’t know that yet.
“But now isn’t the right time,” Alana sighed, thinking it over. “Did you know that Abel and his son are staying at Emmeline’s café?” Alondra said with a mysterious look.
“Yeah, I heard. But honestly, I don’t have time to deal with her right now,” Alana admitted, a little frustrated.
“You didn’t win against her last time. You don’t have a strong enough argument yet. You’ll fail,” Alondra said, shaking her head.
“I do have something now!” Alana said with confidence, her hand resting on her stomach. “I’m pregnant with Abel’s child! Even Rosaline will support me now, because this is her grandchild!”
“That’s right!” Alondra laughed. “You’ve got the perfect bargaining chip. I already have a plan to take care of Emmeline.”
“What’s the plan? You’re a real mastermind!” Alana grinned, already feeling a surge of confidence.
